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The 4th Lady McKenzie

By: Egmont0409



SET in New Zealand's South Island. 

CHAPTER 1

Iona was not quite a year old when brought to New Zealand fifty years ago by her Scottish parents Ross and Jennie MacDonald. 

Ross, a keen fisherman, spent his first two years labouring on a farm on coastal Otago and working late into the night rebuilding an abandoned wrecked fishing boat, buying tools and materials as money allowed, the family surviving near the breadline. Men from his football team had helped haul the hulk off the reef and on to the beach above high water mark, a quarter of a mile from where the family was housed. Some of those friends helped on the project and donated materials.

At the end of that second year Ross put to sea with a crew of two and began to build the most successful fishing company in the southern half of the South Island. People and building suppliers who'd helped him put to sea were paid back handsomely. 

Almost every year for twenty-four years the company acquired another vessel and then Ross drowned, dragged under when caught in a snagged fishing net. 

Iona and her husband Gavin Phelps took over the business on behalf of her ailing mother. They reduced the enterprise to a 15-boat fleet. MacDonald Fisheries prospered and just four months ago Gavin died suddenly from a clot. Iona, two months short of turning fifty, sold the business. She gave substantial cheques to her two children and retired to a huge house she'd purchased. 

Two days ago Iona's son visited, anxious for Iona to take back her life.

"Mum, if you don't budge from this dilapidated dwelling I'll attempt to have the authorities order it demolished."

"Don't you dare talk to me like that Grant. Now get out of here." 

Grant, a medical student, left angrily but came back sheepishly when his mother yelled, "Shut the door Grant."

Senior law student Fiona visited her mother next day and used quite a different approach. "Mum, I don't like you being shut up in this dark and dank house. If you could live somewhere else near here what would be your choice?"

"MacDonald Farm. But that's a problem because it's now part of Kincaid Station."

"I'll see what I can do."

"I'm not spending money on any purchase of land."

Fiona smiled confidently and said she understood. After making afternoon tea for her mother and clearing away she left wondering had that been a waste of time.

But no. She waited a week to get an appointment with Sir Alec McKenzie, a prominent businessman and owner of six cattle stations collectively running 163,000 head of stock.

"You're well dressed and too pretty to be a university student," Sir Alec smiled. "So you're here to solicit money for a damn university research project?"

"I've dressed to impress and I'm here to ask you to house my mother."

Taken aback he scowled, "Are you out of your mind?"

"My mother is Iona Phelps now reverted to Iona MacDonald. You and she had an affair when I was at high school."

"Get up and close the door."

"Yes sir."

"And don't be so bloody subservient."

"And up yours."

Fiona caught the grin on the florid craggy face and heard him say, "That's the caper. You are awfully like your mother, the Mark 2 version of course. Of all the affairs I've had your mother was the best."

"What were the other instances with men or sheep?"

"Now look here young lady..."

"You'll do what?" the auburn Fiona said, rising and her cheeks flaming.

"God you are like your mother. Sit down and behave. Um, please sit Fiona. Good. I hear she's become a recluse since your father's unfortunate death."

"You knew my father?"

"Dunedin and its shores are not all that large. One of my companies did all the maintenance of the MacDonald Fisheries fleet."

Looking around the spartan office, Fiona asked, "Did you lose the business when mum sold?"

"Do I look stupid?"

"You are tempting me Sir Alec."

He grinned. "Craig is coming home soon. He's had two years working on his grandparent's estate in the north of Scotland and is buying bulls in Scotland and England and bringing them home to supplement our breeding lines. I must introduce him to you."

"If he's anything like you, no thanks."

Sir Alec grinned. "He's like his mother."

Fiona burbled, "Ohmigod, couth, good looking and educated. Make sure you introduce him."

"Yes," smiled the three-times widowed businessman, a little sadly. "Off you go Fiona. I have other people waiting. I shall call you."

* * *

Iona MacDonald stood at the front door of the house she grown up in, on the property her father had settled on and later had purchased and then sold years later to McKenzie Farmlands Corporation to finance the building of a deep sea trawler. It had grazed sheep but now ran cattle. Fiona handed over the key and Iona opened the door while her daughter warned, "Farm hands have been living in this house and the rear bedrooms were destroyed by fire."

"I'll have it upgraded to my satisfaction. Just look at that sea will you? Your grandfather threw me into that water repeatedly and so I learned to swim about the same time I learned to walk."

"A little later you learned to swim I should think."

"Who's telling this story Fiona?"

The house passed inspection, Iona saying she'd lived in worse.

"I gave you my shopping list. Did you get everything?"

"Yes, apart from the shotgun. Why do you want a shotgun?"

"To shoot rabbits and pheasants to eat, perhaps water fowl, and warn off undesirables like Alec McKenzie."

"It's his land."

"You negotiated my lease of this house and the five-acre paddock behind it. Where's the horse and my yearling Hereford bull?"

"No way was I going to choose for you. You can do that. Go to the corporation's show case Highlands Estate for your pick."

"No, I want them from off this land. I believe like people they feel part of the land."

"That's bollocks."

"And that's filthy language. And I'll ask again. Where's my shotgun?"

"Go to a gun shop in the city after you've secured a police permit for a gun licence. If you show you are unstable as I think you will, you'll not get a licence."

"God you are a cheeky young bitch Fiona. You must have Grant's balls."

"Stop putting him down. Grant has the perfect sensitivity to be a great doctor. Woman patients will flock to register with him."

"I bet. Have you seen what he packs?"

"Mom, that's foul."

Fiona helped her mom carry in things from the Land Rover and the boot and back seat of Fiona's car. Fiona then came in with her hunting rifle. "Here, keep this till you get your shotgun. It's rather remote out here."

"Not having your gun in your possession is a breach of your licence. You could be fined in court."

"So? The safety of my mother is of more concerned to me than a court fine."

"That charge if proven could prevent you from being admitted as a barrister of the High Court next year."

"Don't worry. I'd get my law school heads to get of their backsides and take my case to appeal on the grounds that the safety of my mother was paramount."

"Oh darling you do care for me. Take your gun back home. I'll defend myself with my axe."

"Take the gun mother and shut up. Now you follow orders. You are to eat good healthy food and go for walks each day to the beach, twice a day I should think. Continue to remember dad but also come out of mourning. I want you fit and healthy ready to become Lady McKenzie the 4th. I quite like the old bastard. He has something that substitutes for charm and it certainly worked on me."

"Darling, you are demented. Please hurry home and take a good laxative. And don't forget to visit me occasionally. You might tell Grant he's welcome. If he calls on this damn cell phone you gave me I'll know to cook dinner for him but he can bring his own wine. I'll establish a cellar when all the renovations are done."

"Renovations? The lease you signed authorizes you to make good with repairs and maintenance. Renovations will be a breach of your lease."

"Spoken like a demented lawyer darling. While driving home try to define the difference between repairs and maintenance and renovations. Please give mummy a kiss and go. You worry too much. Don't forget that laxative."

Iona waved Fiona off and sat outside on a near-collapsing bench. She looked around and held back the memories. Time for them later. She smiled and thought good girl Fiona getting her out of that crappy house and out here where she felt free. God the salt in the air was improving her already. Actually she was more isolated than in the old house. Well she had a vehicle. She could drive to the city and go to the village to occasionally buy a newspaper and read it over coffee. She might find some people who knew from childhood.

Deciding she didn't mind her parent's former farm being part of Kincaid Station, Iona wondered where the cattle were. According to the lawyer who transacted the lease there were almost 8,000 breeding cattle on the station plus bulls and younger cattle. God she'd love a whisky. Perhaps she should call Alec and tell him to come with a bottle and she'd cook him a decent meal. Oh yeah?

Iona went inside, opened more windows and began storing provisions. She took out a pack of rat bait and looked around for droppings but saw none. And then, "Ah good girl Fiona." From another box she'd pulled out a bottle of single malt. 

"Fiona, I love you." She would have just the one small glass at sunset. That's when she'd think about living here and when her father threw her into the sea when she was about three. Yes Fiona, she would have been running by then.

* * *

Next morning an hour after dawn three farm hands [cowboys] were moving 110 bulls up from the far end of the station bordered by the sea on three sides. They were downwind of the old house when Bert Brown said, "I smell coffee."

"Yeah?" Clancy said. "You need a couple of nights in town buddy. Next you'll be saying you smell pussy."

Young Jim came roaring over on his farm bike, taking a wide arc behind the bulls to avoid spooking them, his dog Chum sitting on the fuel tank front feet on the handlebars. He drew up alongside Clancy. "There's someone in the house. I saw smoke from the kitchen chimney."

"Then it was coffee I smelt," Bert said. "Let's cadge some when we get up there." 

A woman came out and waved to the guys.

The bulls were in a long line two to four abreast. A young bull near the front saw the woman and trotted over to her aggressively.

Clancy groaned, "Oh shit, we're too far away to get to her in time. Ever Chum can't run that fast."

The men didn't want to spook the herd but accelerated up the side of them to provide whatever assistance to the woman they could. 

She remained calm as the 2-year old got near and then suddenly threw her hands above her head and screamed something. The startled 1000lb Aberdeen Angus bull took fright and veered away.

"I'll handle this," said Bert. "You two hurry on stragglers."

"Good morning ma'am."

"Oh hi, I'm Iona MacDonald. I grew up in this house."

"You mean Iona Phelps?" Bert said, taking off his Acubra [Stetson].

"You are well informed."

"Well I haven't been informed you'd shifted in."

"Well kindly inform everyone. I have leased this property from Sir Alec an old friend of mine, if you can call it friendship. You and the boys come in for coffee. I've not long taken scones from the oven. Wood is scarce as hen's teeth around here."

"There's driftwood on the beach."

"Oh yes, of course."

When the men were sitting down to coffee and hot buttered scones Young Jim asked, "What on earth did you shout at that bull. It scared him."

"What anyone would do. I yelled "Get the fuck out of here?"

The table shook as the guys laughed.

"Take a look at this Bert. My agreement says I get my choice of a horse and a young Hereford bull as part of my lease plus a borrowed saddle and bridle until I buy my own. Where do I start?"

"The Herefords are eleven miles up thataway and the horses are nine miles at the manager's house thataway. We only use horses when it rains heavily and persistently. Take a black beast walking by now."

"Hmmm. I'll take a tail ender and feed it up."

"Okay, I'll get Young Jim to cut one out for you Mrs Phelps."

"Everyone calls me Iona, understand? And I've reverted to my maiden name MacDonald."

"Yes Mrs Phelps."

"Bert!"

"I mean yes Iona. I feel obliged to show deference. You are a multi-millionaire."

"Not out here Bert. You can't spend money out here. We're all the same. May I ride behind you Jim?"

"I rather not."

"What's the dog's name?"

"Chum. But she won't go with you."

"A young Border Collie. God she has bright eyes. You're a lucky man."

Jim was won over. Hop up behind me and don't fall off when we cut out your pick. The bulls will walk straight over you."

"Not when I have you and Chum protecting me."

Clancy and Bert were outside with their coffee waiting to see if this would become a circus.

Clancy finished his coffee. That woman won't be able to make her mind up which straggler to take. We'll be here all day.

Bert scratched his backside. "She's Iona MacDonald. She'll know which beast she wants before they reach the tail end."

"Bullshit, she's not wearing glasses and she'll have the wind-up riding that close to cattle." 

Clancy was told Iona looked barely fifty and would only wear glasses to read

They watched Jim send Chum in to cut out a big-boned skinny bull. 

Jim dismounted with his stock whip and Iona started off on the bike.

"Christ, she can actually ride it. She's pretty good."

Bert commented, "She would have ridden converted road bikes in the old days, not these fancy purpose-built machines we ride."

Iona roared up to them and said, "It needs worming. Do you have drench?"

"Yeah I have," said Bert "But no way we can dose it here. There's no pen and we have no ropes to bring it down."

Iona called, "Back the Land Rover out of the garage please Clancy," She rode back and helped Chum steer the bull towards the garage. 

"Get it into the garage," she yelled. "Then drive the vehicle in holding the doors open and pin the steer to the wall with the bumper bars. Take care."

It was good thinking. The alarmed bull had no way out with the vehicle doors out almost to the walls of the garage. Gradually it was pinned sideways against the wall. The boys grabbed its head and Bert injected the combo drench down its throat to kill a wide range of parasites.

Tipping back his hat he said, "Well I'll be jiggered. Who else but a woman could have figured out that manoeuvre?"

"Thanks Bert. You boys better get on your way to avoid getting the manager's boot up your ass. Back out quietly Clancy. I want the bull through this gate beside the garage. My horse needs to go there as well."

"That's a five acre paddock. You'll never catch a horse in there until you tame it."

"True, I need a dog as well," Iona said looking at Chum.

"No, not Chum Mrs Phelps."

"It's Iona Jim."

"Please not Chum. She's young and is into advanced training."

Bert rubbed his chin. "You come up to the manager's house at 3:00 today Iona. He needs to know you are on the station. You can pick out a horse and I'll trailer it back for you. I have an older dog, semi-retired call Mace. You can have him. The old cuss will like nothing better than to round up a horse and follow as you ride to the beach. I'll bring a sack of dog biscuits."

"Oh that's lovely of you Bert. You are invited to stay for dinner in that case, but not to stay the night if you get what I mean."

The boys grinned and the other two looked at Bert enviously. 

"Oh dammit, you other two deserve a good dinner as well. It was a team effort. I'll talk to the manager. Who is he?"

"Allan Cosgrove?"

"What Merv Cosgrove's son?"

Bert said yes.

"You'll be authorized to finish early boys and come here for dinner. Allan and I grew up to together. I believe I was his first... well that's a story to be left lost in the mists of time."

"Allan and his wife Midge..."

"Oh god, Midge Henderson?"

Bert nodded looking sad. Clancy said Allan and Midge would want Iona to stay there for dinner.\

"No way Clancy. Not tonight; tomorrow night maybe. You boys deserve good tucker. Perhaps you can throw some cut firewood into the back of the ute Bert?"

"It's already in my mind Iona. It's really great having you on the station."

Iona waved them off and then went over to look at her bull. It really did look unwell. She decided to drive into the village and pick up a small drum of molasses. Before leaving she called Midge who sounded very excited. "We knew you were coming but were given no date. Come for dinner tonight?"

"Sorry what about tomorrow? I have guests tonight... some guys handy to know."

"Our guys bringing the bulls back for weighing?"

"Yeah."

"Allan is at the other end of the property. Come for lunch and we can knock over a bottle of wine."

"Good thinking. I'm going into the village to open accounts at the general store and the veterinary clinic."

"Use our account at the vet's clinic. I'll phone though to authorize that now. Your bull and horse remain station property won't they?"

"Yes."

"Well then we pay."

"Thank you Midge. God it will be great seeing you and Allan again."

"Can't wait. I'll get the horses in for you to make your pick. Allan will be grumpy if you pick his favourites."

"Tough."

Midge laughed. "God you haven't been changed by all that money. Hurry over."

CHAPTER 2

A young university law lecturer Hammond Hay pulled out of Fiona and sighed. "That was good."

"Well after last night I didn't think you'd be ready to bang again this morning."

"It's what you wanted wasn't it?"

"Yes."

He grinned and said well what else could she expect. Guys were prepared to do a lot for their women and their country.

They cleaned up and he said, "My mom's off to Melbourne to shop today. Fancy going to Australia for two days to shop."

"She's probably bored." 

"Does your mother love shopping?"

"No, she hates it except buying things she really needs. Last night she spent her first night alone on a remote farm, in the homestead or what's left of it where she grew up."

"Jesus. She must have been scared shitless knowing she was far from civilisation?"

"No she would have loved it, hearing the sound of the surf and listening for the tiny patter of rat's feet."

"Jesus!"

"Are you a divinity graduate Hammond?"

He turned to deny it and caught the smile. "Everyone calls you a tough bitch whose good looking apart from her fucking red hair and who is really great at teasing."

"Everyone?"

"Paul Frost actually."

"Oh yeah. His girlfriend found out he'd slept with me so would have booted his ass. Disgruntled lovers are unlikely to say good things about you."

"I reckon he's pretty accurate."

"Is that so. Well you can fuck off Hammond."

"Jesus Fiona, don't be so cruel. I'm sorry and I actually like your hair. I'd like to live with you for a while Fiona. You're a great fuck."

"Oh am I darling? Come here."

During a break between lectures Fiona called her mother.

"Oh hello darling. Am I using this phone correctly?"

"You must be. I can hear you. Are you living it up great?"

"Is that good grammar?"

"Kindly answer the question."

"I had a great night and have already met some farm hands."

"And are you back into you know what?"

The call was cut.

Fiona called her mother back who answered sharply, "What?"

"What are you doing?"

"I've been to the village to pick up some things and now am going to the home of the station manager to lunch with his wife Midge Cosgrove."

"You mean Miss Henderson. Oh great. She's lively and around your age. She taught me at primary school, my favourite teacher?"

"And you think I'd forgotten that?"


The 4th Lady McKenzie



"No mom. Oh you two will have a great time catching up. I'll now be less worried about you."

"Worried? Really Fiona. May I ask why you have a scope on your rifle? I shot a young wild goat for the table just before I left for the village. I could have dropped it half a mile away with a scope. It's not sport darling."

"Then take the damn thing off."

"Um, perhaps I'll leave it. My eyesight is not what it used to be." 

"Yes mother," Fiona giggled. "Say hi to Midge from me."

Fiona saw she'd received a message from Sir Alec so called him.

"I'm worried about your mother out there all alone. She will be okay I'm sure, once she settles in."

"So why call me? She has a cell phone."

"I don't have the number."

"You didn't say you were calling to get her number."

"Christ, what is this?" A courtroom interrogation?"

"What is it Sir Alec?"

"You may call me Alec. Your mother and I haven't been on good terms although actually we were okay when negotiating over the sale of her fleet. I'd like to go out and have dinner with her this evening and want you to accompany me as an intermediary."

Fiona had scheduled the evening for study but thought Sir Alec facing off with her mother would be too good to miss.

"Okay. She doesn't have much food out there."

"That's not a problem. I'll toss in a sack of potatoes and buy four barbecued chickens and a heap of frozen vegetables."

"She has no fridge."

"Then I'll buy her one that runs on bottled gas.. Oh and some wine and I'll pick you up, say at 4:45?"

"Okay. Here's my address."

"I have it already. I own most of the houses on that street. Be smiling and looking pretty for me Fiona. It might also impress your mother."

"Then don't wear a dinner suit."

"Lay off Fiona. I know it's dinner in a farmhouse hovel."

Fiona knew she'd like the old cuss who'd she understood would turn sixty-five next year. He was one of those 'favourite uncle' characters, gruff injected with a bit of fun and as straight as they come. On the drive out in his fancy German V10 SUV Fiona asked him about his climb to fame, as she put it, and he entertained her brilliantly and with wit, especially when describing wives number two and three.

"Your first wife, you missed out describing her?"

Alec choked slightly when saying, "She died after giving birth to Craig."

"Oh god, I'm sorry for asking."

"No, it's fine."

"No it's not."

"Yes it is. I'm hoping Craig will fall for you."

Fiona sat stunned.

"Come on Fiona, don't disappoint me. Where's the repartee?"

"I'm sure neither Craig or I would welcome such interference. I did not respond because I did not wish to appear rude."

"No harm done. Tell me about you and my mother, you know, in your earlier times."

Alec began, "There was no other woman within a hundred miles, perhaps another hundred miles more that was capable of capturing my heart as a lonely widower than your mother..."

Alec went on to tell Fiona the story of how he went after the already married Iona Phelps. He said there was something about MacDonald women and went on to relate a blow-by-blow account of how he pressured Iona and how they finally consumed their mutual passion, holding back detailing what they actually did. 

It was related in such a rousing manner that Fiona was, in terms of Victoria literature, aware her bosom was heaving.

"So there you are and here we are," Alec said, as the former homestead came into view. "Hello, she has visitors."

"Alec," Fiona said, dabbing at her eyes. "I shall never forget you telling me about and my mother and you."

"Well girl, you don't have to worry about being imposed upon as an intermediary. Your mother has other people here."

Iona stepped forward and said, "Welcome to my humble abode Sir Alec. Hello dear. This is a most unexpected arrival."

He daughter watched the younger two men behind Iona almost cower. If they were farm hands it was remarkable they were so well dressed, in town clothes it seemed.

"The boys have just arrived with my horse and complimentary firewood authorized by Mrs Cosgrove."

"Midge, you'll remember her. She was raised in this district."

"Indeed and I lunched with her."

"And she approved of you selecting that bay gelding? That's one of Allan's mounts, I think his second-best."

"Aye, I wanted his best but there is such a thing you'll be unaware of called discretion."

Alec grinned but then frowned. "That ill-thrift bull. Bert, what the hell are your playing at giving Miss MacDonald that cattle beast. It's dying."

"She picked it Sir Alec. Um ladies know best."

"Bert is correct Sir Alec. That critter will become the biggest bull on this property in two years."

Iona saw her daughter elbow Alec in the ribs and smiled when he said, "As you wish dear. Fiona and I decided to impose on you for dinner."

"Very well, It will be starvation rations. I am roasting a piece of beef but that won't go far. There will be one potato each and..."

"Miss MacDonald, Sir Alec said straightening to his height of almost six foot six. "A gentleman doesn't call on a lady unexpectedly accompanied by her adult daughter without ensuring the table will groan under food. Boys, over here and unload my wagon."

"A refrigerator; oh dear, what do I have to do to justify being given that?"

"Iona, there should have been one here but it must have been stolen. This dwelling has practically been abandoned since Harry Jones attempted to burn it to the ground by smoking in bed when drunk."

"Well thank you Sir Alec. Bert, you obviously know Sir Alec. Sir Alec this is an Australian Clancy, one of your stockmen, and this his sidekick with a great young Border Collie called Mace, Jim Owens also known as Young Jim."

"Sid and Joan's youngest?"

"Yes sir," retorted the astounded youngster.

"When my father and I won a Government lease to a high country run I had a Border Collie called Mace. Best eye dog I ever had."

"You mustered high country?" Jim said, mouth hanging open.

"You have to start somewhere young man. High country is tough but it makes you tough."

"Well everyone, inside for pre-dinner whiskies." Iona invited.

The two younger men looked at Bert and he shuffled his feet and said, "Under the circumstances we best be heading off."

Iona snorted, "Nonsense. If anyone is leaving if will be the late-comers."

Sir Alec grinned, "Boys, it appears if you are under orders to stay. Luckily I threw in a crate of beer."

After a few beers the boys eyed the table piled with food as if all their Christmases had come at once.

"Right everyone sit up," Iona called. "Sir Alec you sit opposite me, Jim and Fiona you sit on that rickety bench seat and Bert you sit opposite them and make sure nothing funny goes on between those two young people."

Jim turned scarlet but Fiona was up to it. "Tell me about this great dog of yours Jim."

Everyone except Fiona got drunk, so she drove Alec back to Dunedin. Alec waxed on about how magnificent Iona had looked and how superbly she had hosted the dinner. That failed to impress Fiona because she thought her mother had been acting just like her mother.

Fiona parked the SUV in Alec's garage and he said, "It would be improper to ask you in although I have a resident housekeeper."

"Yes, it would not go down well with my mother."

"I'll call a taxi."

"No thanks I'll walk."

"You're stubborn, just like your mother."

"And what may I ask is wrong with that and what may I ask is wrong with wanting to walk home when it's only three blocks away?"

"You might fall foul of strangers."

"Ooh, I've not had that happen to me."

"God you are incredibly like your mother."

Fiona frowned. "Never have I heard her talk like that?"

"Ah yes, but what about when she was young and fiery?"

"Oh yeah, that could be my mum. Good night. That was a worthwhile experience."

Walking home she passed a small 'restaurant row' on the opposite site of the street and saw her current lover Hammond Hay with his arm around a woman and once clear of the doorway they moulded into a hug and began a kiss no guy would ordinarily give a sister or young aunt. "Goodbye your jerk," Fiona murmured and just avoided tripping over a drunk on the pavement.

Perhaps she should look at Craig McKenzie?

Nah.

* * *

Iona rose at dawn next morning and found nothing much to clear away. The dishes left to dry naturally had dried so she put them away. It really had been a great night. The boys once they had a couple of beers into them had ceased being shy of Alec and he astounded them by knowing more about cattle rearing and growing-on than they did. The bad news had been when the boys had arrived earlier with the horse called Paddy. Bert took her aside and said the dog he was intending to loan her was convulsing and probably would have to be 'put down' if not better in the morning. 

The bull was grazing near the back of the house so Iona called it to the gate, putting out molasses on a lid from an abandoned chemical drum. She stood back and the bull came to view her, saw the lid and sniffed, but did not lick the treacly mass.

"Damn," she fumed.

She went into the garage and tore some hay from one of the two bales she'd purchased from the farm supplies store the previous day. She went in by the bull fearlessly. It backed off snorting and watchful as Iona scrapped molasses off with the hay and dumped the hay on the ground. The bull ate the hay, obviously knowing what that was, and apparently when finishing that had decided molasses was acceptable so licked the lid clean,

Paddy came up and when the bull ambled off the horse came forward and that gave Iona an idea. She grabbed a handful of hay off the bale and came out with a halter and entered the paddock. Paddy didn't show any concern as she attached the halter and by then he'd scoffed the hay so she led him out to saddle him and swap the halter for a bridle.

Iona mounted, no problem. Paddy was quiet. But there would be a problem with her thighs and butt if she rode for too long. She must adapt slowly to riding again, meaning toughing up. She was fifty not fifteen. She rode down to the beach and along the shallows. Paddy obviously liked being in the sea, 

Back home she gave Paddy another handful of hay and placed a dab of molasses on it. He liked that. So each morning for the next three days Iona called bull and horse for molasses and on the forth morning they were waiting for her, training time over. She walked in and held the hay out to the bull. It backed off. She stayed quietly as eventually it came forward and began eating. No problem. Well Aberdeen Angus were renowned as being quiet cattle. Still neither horse nor bull was to be trusted completely.

Mid morning Bert called and said they were almost ready to bring the bulls back down as weighing, drenching and vaccinating had been completed.

"I've been talking to Allan. He has two dogs and only needs one to look as if he's a cattleman. Which one do you want, Tom or Zoë?"

"Which will be the best dog for Allen?"

"Not Zoë, that's for sure. I thought you would have asked for the best dog."

"Well now you know differently. Drop her off on the way past and you guys call into for afternoon tea on the way back."

"A beer? Some were left over weren't they?"

"Yes. Beer it is."

Iona used the piece of bent metal used as a whistle that Bert had given her when dropping off Zoë. Initially Zoë was confused but Iona got a couple of commands right and thought Zoë was accepting her. When Bert returned he tutored Iona with a whistle and Zoë was carrying out basic commands. "Try her on your bull."

"I'm taming him. I don't want him upset."

"The occasional use of Zoë will remind him he's not boss. Actually once you send Zoë off she'll work it out yourself and bring the bull to you. What's it's name?"

"I was thinking Calvin."

"You're kidding? You picked good type and conformation. He's programmed to be really big for an Angus. Get the weight back on him and he'll grow."

"And so?"

"Calvin is a dumb name for a big bull."

"All right smart ass. Suggest something better?"

"Easy. Call him Zorro."

"Oh god, that's it. Zorro. Thank you Bert. Like another beer? I must stock up.

She sent Zoë off after Zorro and she brought him up to the gate without undue haste. Iona was waiting there with molasses-dribbled hay to avoid Zorro thinking he'd been messed around for nothing, if a bull would think that way. 

On Friday Alec called Iona.

"What are you doing?"

"God I thought you were a busy businessman?"

"I am."

"I'm reading."

"About tomorrow night."

"What about it?"

"A cocktail party for a visiting group American cattlemen and wives. I was going alone and then thought of you."

"Oh."

"I thought I'd show off to those Americans I'm hooked into a pretty woman."

Iona sniffed and said, "You big buffoon." She couldn't help smiling.

"Yes?"

"Yes."

"I'll pick you up at 5:20 for a 6:15 start."

Iona said she'd drive herself to the city and asked for the name of the venue.

"Okay but I thought if I drove you back home you'd invite me to stay the night?"

"It's great how two minds can think alike but I'll drive myself in. What do I wear... ripped jeans with bits of cow shit sticking to them? Your guests are cattle people."

"Please yourself. You'll look good in anything."

Iona switched off her phone and laughed. Showing her off indeed. The old coot was losing it.

Alec, dressed in a dinner suit, was waiting in the foyer and smiled appreciatively as Iona walked into view. She was wearing high black boots with big silver buckles over black tights and a short Macdonald tartan kilt and a plain white blouse with puffed sleeves and a low necklace of the Macdonald badge in solid gold.

"You look marvellous," he said, kissing her and gloated, "Some of these Yank ladies who think they're pretty cool are just going to love you."

"I'm glad I'm come for your amusement."

"Aw Fiona, give a guy a break."

"Right in we go you big ox."

"We'll be announced, I'm president of the Otago Cattleman's Association."

"Oh god, how will I be introduced?"

"Relax, I decided to act conservatively knowing it would meet your approval."

They stood at the doorway behind the association's chief judge. There was a drum roll and he marched in, wheeled and stood to the side, having instructed the couple to continue walking in slowly.

"Distinguished visitors, ladies and gentlemen. I announced the arrival of our esteemed president Sir Alexander McKenzie and his great friend Iona Macdonald.

"Great friend, when was that?" Fiona hissed.

"Between the times you treated me with disdain," he whispered, waving to acknowledge the warm greeting.

People crowded them, local breeders introducing their American guests who they were hosting as couples or larger groups.

Women, including local women, asked Fiona were she and Sir Alexander, er, together?"

Iona had expected to be asked that so said, consistently, "In a manner of speaking." At one stage she heard a woman from Missouri asked Alec outright, "Do you and Fiona live together?"

"Oh no," she heard Alec reply and coloured when he added, "But ma'am is you can manage to persuade Iona to do that I would be most pleased."

"I bet," said the big lady, digging Alec in the ribs.

Women from Colorado, Idaho, Illinois and Iowa gave Iona their card and said, "You and Sir Alexandra must come and stay with us." She was astonished at the camaraderie that cattle associations could generate. One woman gave the offer to visit and her husband added, "We maintain an apartment in Chicago that you may also use with our compliments."

The bar closed at 8:30 and the visitors left with their hosts because they would be moving to the mountain resort town of Queenstown for a couple of days 'breather' without inspecting cattle and looking at cattle breeding and rearing techniques.

Iona stayed on while Alec chatted with association stalwarts over a bottle of whisky in a side room. Alec caught her yawn and said, "Right chaps, I'm off."

In the foyer Iona said she was off home.

"Are you sure?" Alec asked hopefully.

"Look Alec, I'm not hopping into bed with you like one of your bunnies. If you want me, woo me."

"You mean you'd marry me?"

"Well I wasn't thinking of going that far. I suppose it could come to that."

"You suppose?"

"Kiss me but don't whack my backside Alec. People are still coming out. But kiss me as if you like me as a great female friend."

"What about like a former lover?"

"As you wish."

As Iona left she smiled, thinking the old coot was still capable. As he'd kissed her, pressing into he, she'd felt his erection.

"It has never been left long enough unused to grow lethargic," she said and howled in laughter, stopping for yet another blasted set of traffic lights. Why did city authorities make cities so unfriendly? "To stop banging your vehicle into the vehicle of some stupid women driver," she said "Marry Alec McKenzie. Now there's a thought," she said, and began thinking about it.

Arriving home Alec made a call. "Hi, it's Alec."

"Why are you calling me late at night?"

"It's not late, only 9:45. What are you doing?"

Fiona said she was studying.

"What, no boyfriend?"

"Not at the moment if you must know."

"Look, I've just left your mother..."

"So she turned you down and you thought of me as a backstop."

"That's disgusting."

Fiona said she was glad he thought so.

"Listen, come with me tomorrow early. I'm driving to Christchurch to pick up six yearlings that arrived in Lyttleton last night. They were landed in Auckland by air and have met all import requirements so are free to be carted to my Tikitki Station. I'm leaving in a horse float at 6:00 from outside my home."

"Ah I see. So your son is travelling with them."

"Yes. I need two people in the back with them. They are yearlings and we've made six stalls for them. If they go down I want them up immediately and that will take two people. I can get a farmhand to come with me but ... well you know."

"Well I suppose I have to meet him sometime; you are so stubborn you won't give up till I do. All right I'll come but we leave at 7:30."

"I have to be at the collection point at the agreed time Fiona."

"Okay, bloody 6:00 am on a Sunday morning then. I've heard you are a tough bastard."

"Thanks Fiona," Alec laughed. "Compliments coming from you sound good."

They were away at 5:55. 

He asked, "Sleep well?"

"No I kept waking up, dreaming I was being chased by huge bulls."

Alec laughed and said she shouldn't drink cheap wine. "Now tell me everything you can about your mother that could be useful to me."

"Well, let's take the shortcut. She'll marry you providing you court her well and don't demand she give up her preference of being called Iona MacDonald. She won't mind in formal situations being called Lady McKenzie if granted that title. That's what I think but then who am I? You know what my mother is like."

"Oh you little beauty Fiona. You are the closest person to your mother and I treasure what you say?"

"Careful, praise becomes a habit."

"And you Fiona, what do you think about the possibility of me marrying your mother?"

"You're okay."

A big belly laugh filled the cab. "Oh Fiona, I find your eloquence simply stunning." The happy Alec put his foot down and built up speed to the permissible limit.

"Right, I want to know about your first wife and any problems the second and third wives gave young Grant. This is essential information for a young woman with an enquiring mind and could help me cope with your son and heir. But if he proves to be an asshole then that's me gone."

"Ah, he's a lovely laddie. Now where should I start?"

"The beginning is usually the best place to start. Throw in bits of hot sex to prevent me becoming bored taking this journey with an old man taking how long?"




The 4th Lady McKenzie



"Five hours."

"Oh spare me. The things I do to try to get my mother married off."

The truck lurched and Alec said "Whoopsie" and grinned at Fiona who frowned and told him to get on with his monologue and not to forget to thrown in what the woman were like in bed. "I'm young and need to know these things."

CHAPTER 3

The guy was only a little taller and a little wider across the shoulders than Fiona. Lean, dark and handsome, conforming to the cliché she thought.

"Dad! Great to see you," he said, as the two back-slapped from a hug and looking at Fiona said, "Who's the babe? Cute."

"Come over and meet Fiona. Fiona this is my son Craig."

"Hi Craig. Nice trip without incident?"

"Yes thanks."

"Where are the yearlings and have you completed the paperwork."

"Ah yes. Dad?"

"Please tell your father where to place the float for loading?"

"Just here is okay dad. Open the doors. They will come out one at the time in their crate on a forklift. They are travel weary and sick of being cooped up so don't be disappointed they're listless. They've come 12,000 miles with just the two stops."

"I have been warned. We are taking them to Tikitiki and will house them in the barn for a few days in stalls, letting them out in the day."

"Good idea. What's your surname Fiona?"

"Phelps."

"I went fishing with a guy Phelps a couple of times when a student. I think he died. Any relation?"

"Yes, he was my dad."

"Oh sorry Fiona, I intended no disrespect."

"It's okay."

"Christ, that means you're the daughter of the infamous Iona MacDonald, dad's old flame."

"I'm not sure about infamous, famous perhaps."

"Well what are you doing here with dad? Are you a trainee vet or something?"

"Your father wanted you to meet me. He thinks you may need a date but I think although you have been away two years, old flames will still be around. I came to humour him. He's actually my landlord so I thought greasing up to him might help if there are complaints about us having wild parties. I'm into my final year, completing an LLB with honours. This follows on a BSc." 

"So that makes you twenty-five."

"In a couple of months, yes. What do you have?"

"I completed a B.Ag Science with honours at Lincoln almost four years ago. I'm twenty-seven."

"And coming back home to work for your father?"

"Taking charge of his livestock interests, yes Fiona. I did some post-grad studies into stock improvement while in England and received very expert advice on making these selections. Here's the first now. Where's dad?"

"In the cab listening to the radio. I had not seen a discreet side to your father before. I'll fetch him; he should see where his money has gone."

Craig looked at her steadily. "You are different, not running with the pack. Headstrong I should think and pretty, just short of being beautiful. My father would have seen all that in you."

"While you wax on Craig I'll fetch your father."

They set off on the five-hour return journey, Alec driving. In the back here was a seat for three people with seatbelts attacked through to the cab. Fiona saw at once they could easily see the heads of the yearlings, three on each side of the central passageway. They stopped almost and hour and a half later for lunch at Ashburton. When they went to resume after checking the stock Fiona said Craig looked whacked so he must take a nap in the sleeping cabin behind the driver.

"No, I'll be okay."

"You need a sleep. I don't want you taking me out to dinner yawning and falling asleep over the table."

"Are we going on a date tonight?"

"Yes, so get sleeping. I'll use my phone to call Alec if any problems arise here."

"You call dad Alec?"

"I'm that sort of girl Craig. Now off you go."

Fiona winked at Alec, having seen his initial disappointment at Craig and her apparently not falling over each other but Alec mounted a big smile when Craig mentioned 'date.'

Craig was staying with his father who'd looked very tired after they returned from Tikitiki station after unloading the very expensive young bulls. 

At the station everyone had come into the barn to pass opinions on them. Alec had been behind the wheel for almost eleven hours. Fiona invited him to come to dinner with them but he declined with a yawn and a wink she only just caught. 

The meal was a disaster. Craig barely touched his before he pushed his plate away. Fiona noticed his attention wandering so she said, "Go home, you're exhausted. I'll stay and finish."

"I'll pay."

"Okay."

They said goodnight and he left but returned a couple of minutes later. "My wallet is on my bedside table."

"No problem. Off you go."

"This date has been a disaster. Sorry."

"Believe me, I've had worse," Fiona grinned.

"You're a good sort Fiona. Good night; I'll tell them you'll be paying. God, I'll now be known in Dunedin as the jerk."

"Don't worry Craig. I know you're not a jerk but I've not had time to find out what you really are like. Perhaps that will happen. Good night."

* * *

Just before dawn Iona, cleaning her teeth, heard a vehicle. She went out to investigate, thinking of taking the rifle but decided it had been a vehicle driven normally, not creeping up.

"Oh hello," she said, allowing delight into her voice to let Alec know he was welcome. "What's in the float?"

"One of my horses, Sinbad."

"The big black stallion."

"Yes. How did you know that?"

"I'd asked Midge if you still rode and she said would a guy have three great horses without riding regularly. She told me about Sinbad, Banjo and um."

"I don't have a horse called Um."

"Stop teasing you fool or I'll go back inside and bolt the door."

"Thor."

"Oh yes. My memory is not like it was."

"Yes it is. You're not old. You memory is rusty because you're not interactive enough and having you memory constantly challenge. But I must say you related well at the function the other night. You were the outstanding female there and most of those American women just adored you."

"Bullshit."

"Okay, please yourself."

Iona's expression changed. "I'm sorry Alec. That was stupid rebuttal. I accept I may have been a standout women as far as you were concerned."

"Whenever I see you Iona I yearn and hope."

"So you want to marry me, definitely."

"Yes, and I'm going to woo you until you fall to my romantic assault."

"All right, I'll marry you."

"What?"

"All those American women and a number of local women at that cocktail party assumed you and I were living together. Neither of us care for being talked about in that way."

"It doesn't worry me."

"Oh in that case..."

Alec shouted, "That was a mistake. I didn't mean that. People talking like that upsets me greatly. Iona, please allow me to make your life complete, marry me."

"Well if you a sure."

"I am, very sure. Ask you daughter."

"What does this have to do with Fiona?"

Alec, now standing close to Iona said, "She went with me to Christchurch yesterday to pick up six steers I've imported from breeders in Aberdeenshire and to meet my son Craig. I talked to her about you and whether you would yield to my proposal of marriage, if I delivered one, and I asked if she would approve and her answer was something like it would be okay."

"I see."

"So you have accepted?"

"Yes of course. But we need to discuss things."

"Yes of course, like what?"

"I want you to have a new home built down by the beach over there. I'll contribute cash..."

"It will be my wedding present to you. I was thinking of settling on Tikitiki Station."

"But I wasn't"

"Okay, then that's settled. This was MacDonald land. I'll also give you back this land, in fact I'll give you all of Kincaid station."

"That is a sweet thought and very generous of you dear Alec but the offer is declined. Just our new house will do at that special place overlooking the spot where my grandfather toiled to establish his family on New Zealand soil, rebuilding that fishing boat."

"God Iona, I can't think of any female turning down the gift of Kincaid Station."

"Well I'm not just any woman Alec. If I were you wouldn't be interested in me; go on, admit it. Your maternal grandmother was a distinguished pioneer, your mother a doctor was elected to the national Parliament and each of your three wives had special qualities."

"All right I admit it. But how did you know this and have those women in my life categorized?"

"I note notable people Alec. I didn't miss the opportunity of being drawn to you all those years ago, sacrificing my belief that adultery was wrong. I had a feeling you and I would come together one day, although this is much earlier than I envisage."

"But why me?"

Iona said, "The idea was planted in me by your late mother. When she was slowly dying I visited her occasionally because she and my mother had been friends. She was gazing out the window to the garden and she said, "Lassie, you would have made a fine wife for Alexander." That's all she said and I was too astonished to speak. You had not long been married to Colleen."

"My god, how remarkable. And mother never mentioned that again?"

"No. And way back then I thought it might be my destiny to marry you but my romantic notions I later put down to the romantic notions of a teenager." 

"That is simply amazing Iona. I'll catch your horse. We are riding to breakfast with Allan and Midge. They are agreeable to a late breakfast but it's quite a ride so we ought to be off."

They returned mid afternoon and after taking care of the horses Alec asked Iona to find him a piece of white cloth. She came out with one of her old singlets to find him sharpening the end of fence batten. He grinned at being handed a singlet and going into the garage nailed it to the top of the batten and put that on to the back of the Land Rover along with the axe and asked to be driven to the beach.

"This house of ours. Where do you want it?" 

Iona pointed to their right, just before the reef.

"Where do you want the centre of the house to be or perhaps the windows of the main lounge."

"Down there is where granddad had the wreck off that reef hauled up."

"Right stand there and I'll fetch the stake. I need to know this when I come out with an architect and you might have wandered off somewhere."

"What's the rush?"

"We marry when the house is ready unless you have objection, so I'm in a rush to have the house built."

Iona smiled, "I have no wish to object."

She watched Alec drive in the stake. "Stay the night. We can discuss house details."

"Good idea."

"But before we go back Alec, have you ever seduced a woman on a beach."

"No. The sand..."

"Oh come on, where's the romantic thought. I keep a chair, my book and spare pair of reading glasses and a rug down here in a old trunk that was in the house. It's remarkably waterproof. I think it was a cabin trunk."

"I could be your grandfather's?"

"I had thought that but there is no sign of identification."

"So you want me to seduce you on the beach now?"

"Yes, I have often thought about it down here reading."

"With me?"

"Yes, and only with you."

"Good god. I like you having thoughts like that. Um, what if I can't get an erection under pressure like this?"

"Alec McKenzie. If I can't get you stiff and ready at a moment's notice then I'm not the woman for you."

"Come on Alec, I want everything stripped off."

"But I'm no spring chicken."

"Nor I. Strip and let me see if I remember it."

Alec undressed quickly and found Iona already nude.

"God Alec, were you crossed with a horse?"

Alec beamed and held his inflating erection.

Iona survived being under a man almost 6ft 6in tall with breadth to match and Round 2 she was on her hands and knees and Alec really liked that and that pleased her.

He said later, "I'll be ready to go again in a few minutes."

"Alec, what's the hurry? You are staying the night remember? Come throw your clothes into the tray and we'll sit over a whisky and sketch a ground floor layout."

"But what about getting dressed? Someone might see us nude."

"If that happened, would the sky fall in?"

Alec grinned sheepishly and said Iona was going to be good for him.

When Iona was in the bath Alec called Fiona.

"Hi it's Alec. What are you doing?"

"Walking home from Varsity."

"Look your mum has shot past the idea of courting so I'm staying with her tonight. Go to my house and eat with Craig. My housekeeper Mrs Stewart will cook before she goes home at 7:00. If you get that far with Craig you are welcome to stay the night with him in my bed."

"Craig doesn't appear very interested in me."

"Look here young woman, are you a MacDonald or are you not? If you don't know the right moves I'll attempt to set out the steps you need to take."

"No thanks. You moves might be too evil for a young lady like me. I accept the challenge."

CHAPTER 4

Mrs Stewart answered the door. "Oh hello, are you Craig's young lady friend?"

"Yes Mrs Stewart. I'm Fiona MacDonald."

Sir Alec said last night to expect you dropping in. Will you stay for dinner?"

"Oh how lovely. Yes please. You said Sir Alec said that to you last night?"

"Yes, he said your dinner with Craig was unlikely to go well because Craig was exhausted after all that travel and remaining vigilant with the young bulls."

They had late afternoon tea, Mrs Stewart saying Craig expected to be home at 6:00.

"Mrs Stewart, my mother Iona is a great friend of Sir Alec's.

"Iona... of course. Why didn't I think of that when you said you were Fiona MacDonald? Your mother accompanied Sir Alec to the cattle breeder's cocktail party the other night. He told me he felt he had a princess on his arm."

"I can understand the sweet talk. Men get like that when they are bullish."

Mrs Stewart shrieked with laughter and then, "I can confide, Sir Alec has gone a little soft on your mother."

"Yes, he talked to me about that yesterday on the drive to Christchurch. Mrs Stewart I'm not really a nosey-parker but are there pictures of Sir Alec's previous wives."

"Would you like to view them? They hang in his home office."

"Yes please."

"Well this is Lady McKenzie the 1st, Craig's mother. Bonnie died..."

"Within hours of Craig being born. Yes I know. She looks sternly beautiful." 

"It is a painting dear. I didn't know her but No 2, I knew her. She's Caroline who was hired to be Craig's governess. She really was beautiful and hugely sexy. Sir Alec became smitten but she asked for a divorce two years after their marriage. A rich guy with coal mines took her back to his hometown in America. And this is Maggie, not as pretty as the other two, but a really beautiful soul. She had taken relatives who were visiting us to Queenstown and driving back was killed when she drove her car into a bridge abutment during a snowstorm. It was very tragic and Sir Alec swore never again would he marry. But renewing contact with your mother may bring a change of mind. Your mother will look beautiful in oils."

"Oh thank you. What a lovely thing to say Mrs Stewart."

"I prefer having a Mistress in the house dear."

Craig arrived and his face lit up when he spotted Fiona after he'd greeted Mrs Stewart.

"Oh it's lovely seeing you Fiona. I have been thinking about you."

"In that case I merit a kiss, surely."

"Um Mrs Stewart is in the room."

"I was only asking to be kissed Craig, not seduced, at least not yet."

Craig kissed her, unabashed.

* * *

Seven months later Craig and Fiona married in Dunedin where they set up house pending Fiona's completion of her degree and her desire to be admitted to the bar. They then would move to the homestead on Craig's father's Perth Station where Craig would be strategically placed to shorten the distance between the various properties for which he controlled and from where Fiona would commute each day to the city.

Iona by that stage was engaged to Alec but they continued living separately although Alec usually stayed with her at least twice a week when he went out to supervise construction of the new house. 

For those four people it appeared the uncertainties in their lives had unravelled. Fiona was delighted to see her mother happy again and with purpose in life and even Alec appeared to had lifted his interest in life up a couple of notches. At the family meal on the night Fiona graduated with her law degree she and Craig made their parents very happy with the announcement Fiona was pregnant. 

"Ah, I'm so delighted," Alec enthused. "I must reward you. What would you like?"

Fiona looked at Craig who said, "We anticipated you may feel generous about this news dad. What we'd like is for you two to take us to Scotland for a couple of weeks to visit relations and learn about family roots and your family and Iona's parents grew up.

"Yes Alec," Fiona said softly. "Craig and I regard ourselves as New Zealanders totally but we have pride in being of Scottish descent and would like the opportunity to pay homage."

"That is a grand idea. I am long overdue for a return visit," said Alec, pulling the young couple together and kissing their heads affectionately.

"Well, I'm not going to shame our relations by travelling with you not married Alec." Iona said. "Let's forget about waiting for the house to be finished' that will take another year with all that stone work. I'd like to marry you next month and go to Scotland on our honeymoon if the timing suits Fiona who is only just into her new job."

"Just make the bookings mum. No job is worth delaying your honeymoon. You may not have many more. You are also forgetting I'm employed in the legal department of your fiancé's holding company. "

"Well this timing is really great for me," Alec said. "Next month would be a grand time to be visiting Scotland on my honeymoon. We can attend the Perth Bulls Sales at Hill o' Drip outside Stirling."

That comment seemed acceptable to everyone. Even Iona was interested in bulls, her so-called 'dying' bull now weighed almost 1000lbs and he was less than half grown.

THE END